Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science Vol. 4 (10), pp. 097-104, October, 2014 Available online at http://www.japsonline.com DOI: 10.7324/JAPS.2014.40118

ISSN 2231-3354

Anti-diabetic and hypolipidaemic effect of botanicals: a review of medicinal weeds on KNUST campus, Kumasi

Christopher Larbie*, Dennis Torkornoo and Jeffrey Dadson

Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

ABSTRACT ARTICLE INFO

Article history: In recent times, weeds have been controlled by chemical means and other means because they are seen as Received on: 16/07/2014 pests as they compete with “useful” for shelter, sunlight, nutrients and water. However, these weeds can Revised on: 12/08/2014 serve as medicines for the treatment of several diseases such as diabetes and hyperlipidaemic conditions. This Accepted on: 24/08/2014 review, therefore creates the awareness of some weeds on KNUST campus, Kumasi-Ghana, which are capable of Available online: 30/10/2014 treating diabetes and hyperlipidaemia. There were sixteen weeds from 11 different families identified with anti-

hyperlipidaemic and anti-diabetic properties or both. These same plants are also effective against other ailments Key words: such as malaria, toothache, eye problems, among others. Conclusion can therefore be drawn that weeds are Hyperlipidaemia, Diabetes, valuable medicinal plants and hence, must be preserved. Weeds

INTRODUCTION Weeds are capable of curing so many diseases due to the

The occurrence of weeds is a serious problem in presence of phytochemicals, among these diseases are diabetes and agriculture and tremendously reduces the productivity of hyperlipidaemia. Hyperlipidaemia is a highly predictive risk factor for agricultural trends by competing with crops for water, mineral nutrients, space and light (Sahu, 1983). A weed, in a general atherosclerosis, coronary artery diseases, cerebral vascular diseases sense, is a plant usually wild or feral that is commonly and a primary cause of death. The characteristic expression of considered to be a nuisance in a garden, lawn, or other hyperlipidaemia is an elevation in the plasma concentration of agricultural development. More specifically, the term is often cholesterol and/or triglycerides (Desu and Saileela, 2013).Diabetes used to describe plants that grow and reproduce aggressively mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by elevation of blood glucose level. (Ediriweera, 2007). Weeds are now widely regarded as pests of DM is found worldwide and becoming a serious threat to crop because they lower the yield and increase the cost of production in various ways. Weeds, however, are also helpful to mankind. It is third killer of human beings after cancer, human beings in several ways among which are food, erosion cardiovascular and cerebro-vascular diseases (Gupta et al., 2009). control, medicine, supply of organic matter and mineral nutrients Recently, some medicinal plants have been reported to be useful in to soil, among others (Maroyi, 2011).Recent developments have hyperlipidaemia and diabetes worldwide and have been used revealed the importance of weedy species in traditional medicine. empirically as anti-hyperlipidaemic and antidiabetic remedies. For instance, in Kenya, 75 plant species from 34 families are According to Kim et al. (2008), more than 400 plant species having used to cure 59 ailments in traditional medicine of Central Kenya hyperlipidaemic and anti-diabetic activities are available in (Lewu and Afolayan, 2009). According to the WHO, over 80% literature. of the world’s population relies on traditional forms of medicine, This review was undertaken to discuss medicinal weeds largely plant based to meet primary health care needs (Mazid et on KNUST campus with anti-hyperlipidaemic and anti-diabetic al., 2012). activities, to serve as a guide for further research and also to persuade the conservation of such weeds with due consideration . * Corresponding Author and proper planning. Email:: [email protected]

© 2014 Christopher Larbie. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License -NonCommercial-ShareAlike Unported License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/). 98 Larbie et al. / Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science 4 (10); 2014: 097-104

Table 1: Summary of medical plants on KNUST Campus with anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidaemic activities.

Diabetic Biochemical Extract studied Plant Family Part used /hyperlipidaemic /histopathologicalparameters

inducing agent studied Whole plant Ageratum conyzoides L. Asteraceae Aqueous extract Streptozotocin Oral glucose tolerance and Blood glucose, lipid profile and rufescens Lam. Leaves Methanolic extract Alloxan body weight Blood glucose, haemoglobin, glycosylated haemoglobin, serum Cassia auriculata L. Fabaceae Flowers Aqueous extract Streptozotocin and tissue lipids, hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphatase activity Gongronema latifolium Aqueous and Asclepiadaceae Leaves Alloxan Phytochemicals and LD Methanolic extract 50 Triglyceride, total cholesterol, low Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit Lamiaceae Leaves Aqueous extract Streptozotocin density lipoprotein, very low

density lipoprotein Ipomoea sepiaria Roxb. Convolvulaceae Leaves Aqueous extract Streptozotocin Serum glucose concentration Ethanolic and Mimosa pudica L. Fabaceae Leaves petroleum ether Alloxan Plasma glucose level extract Blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, lipid Mollugo nudicaulis Lamk. peroxidation, liver glycogen, serum Molluginaceae Whole plant Ethanolic extract Alloxan creatinine, urea, uric acid and liver marker enzymes such as AST, ALT, ALP Methanol and Pergularia daemia (Forsk.) Chiov. Apocynaceae Whole plant Alloxan Blood glucose aqueous extract Blood glucose, liver enzymes such as glucokinase, glucose -6- Phyllantus amarus Schum. &Thonn. Euphorbiaceae Leaves Ethanolic extract Alloxan phosphatase and fructose -1- 6- diphosphatase Blood glucose, Haemoglobin, glycosylated haemoglobin, hepatic glycogen, lipid peroxidation, Senna occidentalis L. Fabaceae Leaves Methanol Streptozotocin antioxidants enzymes (TBARS, HP, SOD, CAT, GPx, VitC, Vit E,GSH) and hepatic marker enzymes (ALT, AST,ALP,ACP) Aqueous and Sida acuta Burm.f. Malvaceae Leaves Alloxan Blood glucose methanol extracts Glucose and activities of antioxidant enzymes, e.g., catalase Vernonia amygdalina Delile Asteraceae Leaves Ethanolic extracts Streptozotocin (CAT), glutathione peroxidase

(GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don Apocynaceae Leaves Powder Streptozotocin Plasma glucose, plasma insulin

Blood glucose, serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, high density Amaranthus viridis L. Amaranthaceae Leaves Methanolic extract Streptozotocin lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein Atherogenic diet + Euphorbia prostrate Aiton Euphorbiaceae Whole plant Ethanolic extract cholesterol powder HDL-cholesterol, lipid profile supplement

Medicinal weeds with anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidaemic Description activity It is an annual herb ramified and up to 1 m tall. Its Table 1 above gives the summary of 16 weed plants stem and leaves are covered with tiny white hairs. Leaves are identified with anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidaemic on KNUST opposite, pubescent with long petioles and include glandular campus. Each plant is described in the remaining sections. trichomes. The flowers are purple and white and the fruits are black and easily dispersed (Nyunai et al., 2010). Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae) Parts used: Whole plant and leaves. Common names: Billygoat–weed, Goatweed, Whiteweed or Medicinal uses: Pharmacological studies have revealed that the Chickweed (Nyunai et al., 2010). plant has anti-diarrhoeal and antibacterial, antiparasitic, .

Larbie et al. / Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science 4 (10); 2014: 097-104 99 anti-inflammatory anticoagulant, myorelaxant, haemostatic, the latter contains tannins. The root is used in decoctions analgesic, antifungal and hypothermic properties. In traditional against fevers, diabetes, diseases of urinary system and medicine, a decoction or infusion of A. conyzoides is used for the constipation. The leaves have laxative properties. The dried treatment of constipation, hepatitis, eczema, epilepsy, wounds, flowers and flower buds are used as a substitute for tea in case dizziness, diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, headaches, intestinal worms of diabetes patients. The powdered seed is also applied to the eye, and filariasis. Fresh aqueous extract is used in treating painful in case of chronic purulent conjunctivitis. In Africa, the bark and menstruation, itching of eye and against lice. An ethno-botanical seeds are said to give relief in rheumatism, eye diseases, study reported that, leaves, or entire plant decoction is useful for gonorrhoea, diabetes and gout. The plant has been shown to the treatment of diabetes (Nyunai et al., 2010).The hypo- have antibacterial activity in laboratory animals (Anushia et al., glycaemic and anti-hyperglycaemic properties of the aqueous 2009). A study conducted by Pari and Latha, (2002) onCassia extracts of the leaves of A.conyzoides L. have being validated in auriculata flower extract (CFEt), at doses of 0.15, 0.30 and 0.45 normo- and hyperglycaemic rats (Nyunai et al., 2010). g/kg body weight for 30 days, observed the suppression of Toxicity elevated blood glucose and lipid levels in diabetic rats. The plant has been reported to have hepatotoxic C.auriculata at 0.45 g/kg was found to be comparable to activities. It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids and echinatine which glibenclamide. These findings indicate that the C.auriculata form covalent bonds with nucleic acids of the hepatocytes to flowers possess antihyperlipidaemic effect in addition to disrupt cellular protein synthesis and replication which cause liver antidiabetic activity. lesions and tumours (Fu et al., 2002). Gongronema latifolium (Asclepiadaceae) Bauhinia rufescens Lam. (Fabaceae) Description Description This is a climbing shrub with hollow stems and fleshy B.rufescens is a shrub usually 1-3 m high and sometimes roots, containing latex. Leaves are opposite, simple and entire with reaching 8 m. The bark is ash-grey, smooth and very fibrous. The petioles. Its blade is broadly ovate, base deeply cordate, apex leaves are very small with greenish-yellow to white and pale pink acuminate, papery. Inflorescence is terminal and axillary cymose flowers. Fruits aggregated with 4-10 seeds each (Muhammad and panicle. Flowers are bisexual, small, 5-merous, regular, yellow- Sirat, 2013). green, and fragrant; calyx lobes elliptical to rounded, hairy at apex Parts used: Whole plant, roots and leaves. (www.prota4u.org). Medicinal uses Parts used: Whole plant, leaf and stem bark The plant is used in the treatment of gout, gingivitis, Medicinal value: G.latifolium is reported to have anti- diarrhoea, dysentery, diabetes, leprosy and malaria. The leaves and inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-asthmatic and fruit are for the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery and ophthalmic antiplasmodal activities. The leaf extracts have analgesic effects, diseases. An extract of the root is used as an astringent or antipyreticand anti-sickling activities. The stem bark extracts have antipyretic. The bark of the roots and trunk is used to anti - ulcerative property. It is used to treat malaria, stomach cure chest complaints, syphilis and other venereal diseases disorders, diabetes, hypertension, muscular pains, arthritis and and to reduce fever (Muhammad and Sirat, 2013). An inflammation, cough and loss of appetite. investigation carried out by Aguh et al. (2013), showed that It has also been reported that the plant is used for the methanolic leaf extracts of Bauhinia rufescens has beneficial treatment of sore gums, colic, dyspepsia and anthelmintic, worm effects on diabetic hyperlipidemia as such could be advanced in infections and for maintaining healthy blood glucose level. The preventing the development of atherosclerosis and possible plant contains phytochemicals such as polyphenols, alkaloids, related cardiovascular pathologies associated with diabetes. glycosides, flavonoids, terpenes, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, β- sistosterol, lupenyl esters, pregnane ester and essential oils Cassia auriculata L. (Fabaceae) (Nnodim et al., 2012).Work done by Akah et al., (2011) showed Common name: Tanner's cassia the presence proteins, flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, terpenoids, Description and steroids in methanol extract and fractions giving credence to C.auriculata is a much branched shrub with smooth the use of G. latifolium in the management of diabetes mellitus. cinnamon brown bark and closely pubescent branchlets. The leaves are alternate, stipulate, paripinnate compound, very Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit (Lamiaceae) numerous, closely placed. Its flowers are irregular, bisexual, bright Common name: Pignut or Chan yellow and large. The fruit is a short legume, oblong, obtuse, Description tipped with long style base, flat, thin, papery, undulately crimpled, It is an annual to perennial subshrub which grows up to pilose, pale brown (Anushia et al., 2009). 2m high having branches and long white piliferous stems, its Parts used: Roots, leaves, flowers and seeds. flowers are purple, the leaves are ovate with serrulate margins; the Medicinal uses: This plant is said to contain a cardiac glucoside flowers are whorly arranged and the fruits are broadly obovoidal (sennapicrin) and sap, leaves and bark yield anthraquinones, while (Attawish et al., 2005; Deshmukh, 2012). 100 Larbie et al. / Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science 4 (10); 2014: 097-104

Part used: Leaves Medicinal uses Medicinal uses: The leaves serve as antiseptic, sudorific, The root extract is used to treat leprosy, dysentery, galactagogue and antidiabetic. The essential oils have mild asthma, insomnia, premenstrual syndrome, menorrhagia, jaundice, antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. impotence and haemorrhoid. The leaves are used to treat type-I Phytochemicals present are alkaloids, glycosides, phytosterols, diabetes. The whole plant is used to treat asthma (Srivastava et al., saponins, phenolic compounds and tannins (Attawish et al., 2005; 2012). In a study conducted by Sutar et al. (2009), attempts were Deshmukh, 2012). made to study anti-diabetic activity ofthe leaves of Mimosa pudica A significant reduction in blood glucose was observed in Linn. ethanolic extract showedsignificant decrease in blood diabetic animals treated with H. suaveolens at different doses glucose level whichcompared well with metformin as when compared with diabetic rats. Levels of triglyceride, total standard drug (500mg/kg)in alloxan-induced (150mg/kg) diabetic cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein rats. were decreased. The results therefore showed that H. suaveolens possesses significant antihyperglycemic activity which might be Mollugo nudicaulisLamk.(Molluginaceae) attributed to stimulating effects on glucose utilization and Common name: Daisey-leaved chickweed antioxidant enzyme (Mishra et al.,2011). Description It is an annual plant which grows up to 22 cm tall. Ipomoea sepiaria Roxb. (Convolvulaceae)Synonym: Ipomoea Leaves are broad, spathulate to oblanceolate, glabrous, and aquatica attenuate. Flowers are in dichasial cymes; scapes slender, Common name: Purple Heart Glory glabrous; involucral bracts ovate-oblong, scarious; sepals oblong, Description mucronate, imbricate persistent. Filaments are persistent. Ovary is It is a perennial slender herb with hairy stems; the leaves sub-globose. Seeds are muricate, minutely strophiolate, black and are simple, alternate, petiolate, ovate to cordate in shape; the shiny (Sindhu et al., 2010). flowers pale purple and subumbellate axillary cymes and the fruits Parts used: Whole plant. are void (Das et al., 2011; Sayani et al., 2012). Medicinal value Parts used: Whole plant, leaves and roots. Mollugo nudicaulisis a medicinal herb, used by Medicinal uses traditional practitioners to cure whooping cough, jaundice, cold, The root is used in the treatment of leucorrhoea and cough, fever, body pain and wounds. It is useful mainly in infertility. Whole plant serves as a tonic, aphrodiasiac, antidiuretic, preventing small ring worms in stomach, to control diabetes and to antidiabetic and hyperdipsia. The leaves have antibacterial activity. increase the life energy of blood cells (Sindhu et al., 2010). The The phytochemicals reported to be present are carbohydrates, antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of M. nudicaulis whole plant alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannin and ethanol extract has been demonstrated in alloxan-induced diabetic saponin (Das et al., 2011; Sayani et al., 2012). rats. At a dose200mg/kg administered orally to the diabetic rats for The antidiabetic effect has been studied in streptozotocin 21 days, significant decreases in the level of blood glucose, induced diabetic Wistar rats, and Type II diabetic patients. The cholesterol, triglycerides, low densitylipoprotein (LDL), lipid results revealed that consumption of the shredded, fresh, edible peroxidation, liver glycogen, serum creatinine, urea, uric acidand portion of I. aquatica for one week, effectively reduced the fasting liver marker enzymes such as AST, ALT, ALP were observed. It blood sugar level of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (p = also produced significant increasein high density lipoprotein 0.01). When subjected to a glucose challenge, the Type II diabetic (HDL), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT),glutathione subjects showed a significant reduction (p = 0.001) in the serum peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), reduced glucose concentration 2 h after the glucose load. However, it was glutathione(GSH), and Vitamin C, which clearly showed the not significantly reduced at 1 h (p < 0.09) post glucose load. There antioxidant property of extract(Sindhu et al., 2010). was a 29.4% decrease in the serum glucose concentration of the diabetic patients when treated with the plant extract (Malavidhane Pergularia daemia(Forsk.) Chiov. (Apocynaceae) et al., 2003). Description It is a perennial herbaceous plant; the leaves are opposite, Mimosa pudica L. (Fabaceae) simple and broadly ovate to cordate with petioles Common Name: Touch- Me-Not (www.plants.jstor.org). Description Part used: Whole plant It is a prickly perennial herb that grows up between 0.5- Medicinal uses: The whole plant serves as antidiabetic, laxative, 0.9m high; leaves are bi-pinnate, opposite, compound in nature antimalarial, anthelmintic, anti-pyretic and analgesic (Suresh and sensitive to touch; flowers are axillary positioned, clustered in Kumar and Mishra, 2008). Phytochemicals reported to be present fluffy balls, radially symmetrical and campanulate; fruits occur in are alkaloids, steroids, saponins, terpenoids and flavonoids aggregate of 2-8 pods (Srivastava et al., 2012). (www.plants.jstor.org). Parts used: Root, leaf and whole plant Larbie et al. / Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science 4 (10); 2014: 097-104 101

A study to evaluate the antidiabetic activities of methanol worms (Yadava and Satnami, 2011; Sadiq et al., 2012; Vashishtha and aqueous extracts of P.daemiain alloxan induced diabetic rats et al., 2009). showed that oral administration of alcoholic extract of P. In a study,methanol fraction of C.occidentalisleaves daemialeaves to diabetic rats for 21 days significantly reduced the (COLMF) was tested against streptozotocin-induceddiabetic rats levels of blood glucose levels in both acute and sub-acute study. and the levels of haemoglobin, glycosylated haemoglobin, hepatic The results were suggestive that the methanol extract of P. glycogen, lipid peroxidation,antioxidants enzymes (TBARS, HP, daemiapossess antidiabetic effect on alloxan induced diabetic rats SOD, CAT, GPx,VitC,VitE,GSH) and hepatic marker and it can be recommended for the prevention of diabetes mellitus enzymes(ALT, AST,ALP,ACP) evaluated in normal and diabetic (Doss and Anand, 2014). experimental rats. Oral administration of COLMFsignificantly and dose- Phyllantus amarusSchum. &Thonn. (Euphobiaceae) dependently normalized the above mentioned parameters near to Common names: Stonebreaker or seed-under-leaf normal inSTZ-diabetic rats (p<0.05). Histopathological Description examination also showed that COLMF extract protected the P. amarus is a small pantropical herb that grows to about pancreatic tissue from STZ-induced damage (Emmanuel et al., 50 cm. Leaf is in one plane. Flowers are all pendent from one side 2010). of the branch, separate male and female. Fruits globular-depressed, Toxicity splits into 3 seeds ribbed (Khan et al., 2012). . Vashishtha et al. (2009) showed that the beans and pods Part used: Whole plant are toxic to farm animals. The extent of the toxin depends largely Medicinal uses on the dose of the bean consumed. P. amarus is a potential diabetic and hypotensive drug for humans (Khan et al., 2012). Whole plant is used in the traditional Sida acutaBurm.f. (Malvaceae) and folk medicines for the treatment of jaundice, asthma, hepatitis, Common name: Horn beam-leafed tuberculosis, ulcer and urinary diseases. It is also used in stomach Description ailments like dyspepsia, colic, diarrhoea, dysentery, dropsy, This plant grows up to 0.7m high, branchlets erect, urinogenital problems, kidney stones, gall stones and for external numerous; obovate, dentate broad, and pubescent. Flowers are application in case of swelling and inflammation (Xavier et al., axillary, solitary or geminate sometimes with a terminal 2012). pauciflorousglomerule; fruits more or less globular, covered on top Oral administration of ethanolic leaf extract (400 mg/kg with golden hair; seeds are obovoid and blackish. The plant is a body weight) for 45 days resulted in a significant (P<0.05) pan tropical wild species, that growing at road sides and on decline in blood glucose from 310.20 to 141.0 mg/dl and wastelands (Mshana et al., 2000). significant recovery in body weight of diabetic mice. Parts used: Whole plant, leaves, roots and shoot. There was also a significant (P<0.05) reduction in the activities of Medicinal uses glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1-6-bisphosphatase in liver, The whole plant is used for prenatal care and dystocia, significant (P<0.05) increase in the activity of glucokinase while the leaves are for dystocia, diabetes mellitus, lumbago and in liver of diabetic mice when compared with that of diabetic ringworm. The roots are used to treat dysentery, dystocia, male control. The study clearly shows that the ethanolic leaf extract sexual impotence while the shoot is used for gonorrhoea and male of P.amarus possesses potent antidiabetic activity (Shetti et al., sexual impotence. The leaves are also used to treat abdominal 2012). pain, haemorrhoids, azoospermia and oligospermia (Mshana et al., 2000). The effect of the aqueous and methanol extracts of S.acuta Senna occidentalis L. (Fabaceae) Synonym: Cassia on blood glucoselevels in both normal and diabetic rabbits was occidentalisL. studied in glucose overloaded rabbits. Extracts have also tested for Common Name: Coffee weed anti-diabetic activity in alloxan-induced diabeticrabbits.Results Description showed that both the aqueous extracts of S.acuta (AESA) and the It is a slightly branched half wood annual herb that can methanol extracts (MESA) at 400 mg/kg significantly increased grow up to a height of 8 m. The leaves are compound alternate, the tolerance forglucose in glucose fed normal rabbits. Blood pinnate, ovate at the top; the inflorescences are axillary raceme glucose levels were reduced significantly at11/2 hrs post-glucose with yellow-coloured flowers (petals). The fruit exist as pod load (p<0.05). containing the seeds (Vashishtha et al., 2009). This reduction was consistent and persisted to21/2 hrs. Parts used: Whole plants, root, flower. The positive control drug (glibenclamide, 0.5 mg/kg body weight, Medicinal uses p.o)produced significant reduction on glycemia at 2 hours post The roots treat ringworm, and snake bites. The leave/root glucose load (p<0.01).The methanol extract produced a extracts are used to treat jaundice, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and significantly lower glucose concentration(mg.min/dl), as diabetes. The seed is used to treat asthma. Flower is used to treat calculated from the area under the curve (AUC) of the bronchitis. The plant is used to inhibit bacteria, fungi and expel glucosetolerance test, than AESA, glibenclamide and negative 102 Larbie et al. / Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science 4 (10); 2014: 097-104 control respectively in thetime periods 30-60 minutes, 60- enhancement in plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and 90minutes and 90-150minutes (p<0.05; p<0.01).Both extracts VLDL-cholesterol, and the atherogenic index of diabetic rats were (AESA and MESA) reduced blood glucose level in alloxanized also normalized in diabetic-treated rats (Rasineni et al., 2010) rabbitssignificantly (p<0.05). The AESA and MESA (400mg/kg p.o) produced Amaranthus viridis L. (Amaranthaceae) significantdecreases in blood sugar at 4hours with percentage Common names: Slender Amaranth or Green Amaranth glycemic change of 30% and20% respectively. The anti- (Krishnamurthy et al., 2011). hyperglycemic action of AESA and MESA weresustained up to Description 8hours with significant percentage glycemic change of 46% A. viridis grows annually as an erect, monoecious herb, and45% respectively (p<0.01). The crude leaf extracts of Sida and is around 100-300 cm tall (Krishnamurthy et al., 2011). acutatherefore possess anti-hyperglycemic activity (Okwuosa et Parts used: Whole plant. al., 2011). Medicinal uses A. viridis has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, VernoniaamygdalinaDelile (Asteraceae) antipyretic, antirheumatic, antiulcer, antiemetic, antidiabetic, Common name: Bitter leaf diuretic, analgetic, laxative, antileprotic and hypolipidemic Description properties. The plant has been used in India traditionally to reduce A shrub of 2-5m high, leaves are elliptic with labour pain, treat respiratory and eye problems, asthma and used characteristic bitter taste. for the improvement of appetite (Krishnamurthy et al., 2011).A Part Used: Leaves study was conducted to investigate the antihyperglycemic and Medicinal Uses hypolipidemic effects of methanolic extract of leaves ofA. The bitter leaf is used in local medicine to cure fever, viridis (MEAV) in normal and streptozotocin (STZ) induced cough and as a laxative. Leaf decoction is taken to treat diabetic rats. pneumonia, increase breast milk in nursing mothers and to cure The statistical data indicated a significant increase in the cough. The leaf juice treats ring worm and other skin infections. body weight, decrease in the blood glucose, total cholesterol and When drunk, it treats diabetes. Leaf extract is drunk to cure serum triglycerides after treatment with MEAV. High density malaria, fever and intestinal complaints. The infusion of the leaf lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level was significantly increased treats loss of appetite (Obute and Adubor, 2007). A decoction from when treated with extract. Histologically, focal necrosis was a combination of herbs is commonly used in Traditional African observed in the diabetic rat pancreas, however, was less obvious in Medicine for the management of chronic ailments. In Nigeria, the treated groups. The MEAV has beneficial effects in reducing the leaves of V.amygdalina Del. (VA) and Azadirachtaindica A. Juss elevated blood glucose level and body weight changes, and (AI) are used traditionally as a remedy against diabetes mellitus improves the lipid profile of STZ induced rats (Krishnamurthy et for which empirical evidence attests to its efficacy(Atangwho et al., 2011). al., 2012). Toxicity The pollen grains from this plant are known to be highly Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don (Apocynaceae) allergenic and a potential cause of respiratory allergic diseases Common name: Madagascar periwinkle (Hasnain et al., 2007). Description It is a procumbent herb that can grow up to a height of 1 Euphorbia prostrataAiton (Euphobeaceae) m. The leaves are opposite, oval to oblong, green and have short Common name: Prostrate sandmat, red euphorbia, prostrate petiole. The flowers are white to dark pink, with five petals lobed spurge (www.flowersofindia.net). together and the fruit exist as a pair of follicles (Gajalakshmi et al., Description 2013). E. prostrata (L) is an annual herb with slender prostrate, Parts used: Whole plant, leaf and root. purple-tinted stems up to about 20 cm long. The oval-shaped Medicinal uses leaves are up to 1 cm long with finely toothed edges. The The whole plants treats muscle pains, sore throat, inflorescence is a cyathium with white petal-like appendages gastritis, raised blood sugar level, malaria and has anticancer surrounding the actual flowers. There are four male flowers and a properties. The leaves are used traditionally to treat Hodgkin’s single female flower, the latter developing into a lobed, hairy fruit lymphoma, and leukaemia. The roots are used to treat high blood (www.flowersofindia.net). sugar (Gajalakshmi et al., 2013).In a study to evaluate the possible Parts used: Whole plant. antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effect of C. roseus leaf powder in Medicinal value diabetic rats, decreased plasma glucose and an increase in plasma E. prostrate has been reported to have antihemorrhoidal, insulin were observed after 15 days in diabetes-treated rats and by anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hypolipidemic, antidiabetic, the end of the experimental period the plasma glucose had almost antidiarrheal, antiasthmatic and astringent properties. It also has reached the normal level, but insulin had not. The significant antioxidant, haemostatic, antithrombotic and vasoprotective Larbie et al. / Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science 4 (10); 2014: 097-104 103

actions for various skin diseases and used traditionally as snake Desu BSR,Saileela CH. Anti-hyperlipidemic activity of bite remedy. It is effective against various signs and symptoms of methanolic extract of Rhinacanthus nasatus. International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Chemistry, 2013; 3(3); 2231-2781 haemorrhoids including bleeding, anal discomfort, anal itching, Doss A,Anand S. Antihyperglycemic activity of methanol and pain at prolapse and proctitis in haemorrhoids (Sharma et al., aqueous extracts of Pergulariadaemia Linn. African Journal of 2011). Biotechnology, 2014; 12(1): 170 - 174 The active constituents of Euphorbia prostrata include Ediriweera ERHSS. A review on medicinal uses of weeds in Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension, 2007; 10: 11-16 tannins, flavonoids such as apigenin, luteolin and quercetin. Emmanuel S, Rani MS, Sreekanth, MR. 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